A 19-year-old from Baton Rouge, Louisiana has been charged with Threatening the Use of a Destructive Device in connection to a South Carolina school threat incident. The Baton Rouge Police Department reports that the teen is charged in the hoax that was the first in a series of separate, similar hoaxes at Carolina Forest High School in Horry County, South Carolina.

The hoaxes all occurred over the last week. The teen has been identified as 19-year-old Trenton Alexander Brown. The Horry County Police Department, Baton Rouge Police Department and FBI identified, located, and arrested Brown on April 30, 2024.

Brown will be extradited to South Carolina. The hoax threat was received around 10:15 a.m. on April 24, 2024 and claimed there were bombs on the campus of Carolina Forest High School. As a result of the hoax, all school buildings were evacuated.

Law enforcement swept the buildings and gave the all clear after finding no explosive devices. Additional threats were received on the following Thursday, Friday, and Monday. BRPD says some were traced to servers as far as India and some back to Carolina Forest area students.

Authorities believe each hoax threat incited subsequent hoaxes. The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Horry County Police Department tip line at 843-915-8477.